Socket connection



Jan. 27, 193.1. w; KLEIN 1 790,?38- I SOCKET CONNECTION Filed Dec. 21. 1925 m YEN TOR Wm Ff w umm A TTORNEX Patented Jan, 27, 1931 UNITED srrss PATENT, oFicE WALTER r. KLEIN, or MILWAUKEE, wIscoNsrN, ssrGNon; To s Ar-oN waENcHcoMg PANY, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, .A coRroR rIoN or wIsooNsIN SOCKET QONNECTlON Application filed December 21, 192a Serial No.- 76,854}: 1 I

The invention'relates to socket-wrench sets. The object of theinvention is to provide a positive locking means associated with the socket wrench adaptors, extension bars and handles of socket wrench sets whereby the possible release of the connectionbetween the socket or adaptor and its cooperative actuating member is prevented. r

The invention further consists in the sev- V eral features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereo i In the drawings, 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line -22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, with parts of the actuating member shown in full;

- Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation view of the actuating member.

In the drawings the numeral 5 designates,

The sockets '6 may have a nut-engaging opening 7 formed therein, that may be of polygonal cross-section for either hexagonal or square nuts, but is provided with a polygonal openingor socket 8 at its other end, which in the present instance is shown as a square opening to take a square bar 5.

In order to positively lock the actuating member 5 against accidental removal from the socket member 6, a locking-pin 9 is associated with one of these members and positively engages the other member. As shown, the locking-pin 9 is mounted in the socket member G and extends transversely of the same across the opening 8. This pin has an enlarged locking head portion 10 slidably mounted in a bore 11 in the socket member, and a reduced portion 13 slidably mounted 59 in an alined bore 14 of said socket member and 1 projects at this "end into a recess IIf)ormed.on the outer sideofsaid socketmemer. g r The pin 9 is normally moved toalocking position by means of aspring 16 mounted in the bore 11 between theend of the head 10 andaplug l7 having a drive fit'with the bore 11 and flush withthe outer portion of the socket .member. The movement of the .pin 9by thespring is limited by a. projection 18 struck up from the reduced portion 13,0f V

opposite sides of said actuating member,,an'd

inclined or cam surfaces 23 tapering from the front end ofthe actuating member to-f I jacent the locking recesses 22. I a a Vfith this construction the'slotted end of the bar 5 may be inserted into the square opening 8 of the socket with the slot'21 alined ward the sides thereof andterminating adwith the in 9 and then be oushed into .the.

socket,-at which time one of the cam surfaces,

which is'then disposed adjacent the cam or tapered surface 20 of tieipin engages said surface and'thereby forces the p1ni9 laterally against the pressure" of the spring 16until the recesses 22 aline with the head 10, at which time said head snaps 'intosaid recess, as shown in Fi 3, with the result that the actuating member 5 is positively locked to l the socket member until released by the pressure of the finger against the end 13 of the pin that-projects into the recess 15. the actuating member is positively locked in place by the snap action with the socket, but is released by a manual actuation of the locking-pin 9. e i

It will be understood that in Wrench sets 99 I Thus each one of the sockets forming a set of sockets is provided with the locking means previously described and that the shanks of the interchangeable handles orthe extension ice bars or so-called adaptors are of a crosssection to fit into the polygonal ends 8 of these interchangeable sockets and respectively cooperate with the locking pins 9 of said sockets.

By the term socket member I mean either a member which has a nut socket portion formed integral therewith, or a member having a socket to receive an operating handle or bar and having a male connection for connection with interchangeable sockets with nut-engaging portions, or for connection with other parts of a'socket wrench set.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to'be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims,

What I claim as my invention is:

" 1. In a socket wrench, the combination of a member having a socket, a spring-pressed pin extending across said socket and provided with a head having a cam face, a member having a part to fit said socket and having a slot to receive said pin with a recess at the end of said slot providing a locking abutment and with a cam face adjacent the side of the slot to cooperate with the; cam

face on the head of said pin to move said pin outwardly as said member i-s'moved inwardly into the said socket to permit automatic locking engagement of said head with said abutment. a

2. In a connection between the interchangeable sockets and interchangeable actuating members of socket-wrench sets, a socket member having a polygonal opening therein to receive an actuating member, a springpressed pin in said socket member and extending across said opening, said pin having a stop projection thereon cooperating with a part of said socket member to limit the locking-position movement ofthe pin and having a head slidably mounted in a bore in the socket member, a plug for the outer end of said bore flush'with the outer surface of said socket member, a spring interposed between said plug and said head, an actuating member, and means on the actuating member to positivelyv engage said head to prevent release of said actuating member from said socket member.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

WALTER F. VKLEIN. 

